When there is anything wrong with an automobile, there is but one thing to do, and that is find the source of the trouble and remedy it.  The temptation is to go on if the machine starts up unexpectedly.  We yielded to the temptation, and went on as soon as the motor started; the day was so fine and we were so anxious to get to Worcester that we started with the motor,—­knowing all the time that whatever made the motor slow to start would, in all likelihood, bring us to a stand-still before very long; the evil moment, possibly the evil hour, may be postponed, but seldom the evil day.

At two o’clock we passed through Springfield, stopping only a moment at the hotel to inquire for mail.  Leaving Springfield we followed the main road towards Worcester, some fifty miles away.  The road is winding and over a rolling country, but for the most part very good.  The grades are not steep, there are some sandy spots, but none so soft as to materially interfere with good speed.  There are many stretches of good gravel, and here and there a piece—­a sample—­of State road, perfectly laid macadam, with signs all along requesting persons not to drive in the centre of the highway,—­this is to save the road from the hollows and ruts that horses and narrow-tired wagons invariably make, and in which the water stands, ultimately wearing the macadam through.  We could not see that the slightest attention was paid to the notices.  Everybody kept the middle of the road, such is the improvidence of men; the country people grumble at the great expense of good roads, and then take the surest way to ruin them.

While it is true that the people in the first instance grumble at the prospective cost of these well-made State roads, no sooner are they laid than their very great value is appreciated, and good roads sentiment becomes rampant.  The farmer who has worn out horses, harness, wagons, and temper in getting light loads to market over heavy roads is quick to appreciate the very material advantage and economy of having highways over which one horse can pull as much as two under the old sandy, rough, and muddy conditions.

A good road may be the making of a town, and it increases the value of all abutting property.  Already the question is commonly asked when a farm is offered for sale or rent, “Is it on a State road?” Lots will not sell in cities unless all improvements are in; soon farmers will not be able to sell unless the highways are improved.

One good thing about the automobile, it does not cut up the surface of a macadam or gravel road as do steel tires and horseshoes.

At the outskirts of the little village of West Brookfield we came to a stand-still; the spark disappeared,—­or rather from a large, round, fat spark it dropped to an insignificant little blue sparklet that would not explode a squib.

The way the spark acted with either or both batteries on indicated pretty strongly that the trouble was in the coil; but it is so seldom a coil goes wrong that everything was looked over, but no spark of any size was to be had, therefore there was nothing to do but cast about for a place to spend the night, for it was then dark.